How to Avoid Frozen Pipes on Your Holiday Getaway
This holiday season you will be out of town and are concerned you might return to a burst pipe or a basement in flood? You want to make sure your home is in good shape while you are gone?
You should be asking those questions. We have been at High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric in the Denver metro since 2012 and we have put right more than our share of frozen pipe fiascoes that some forethought would have put to rest. And if you do have an issue, a live person is on the other end of (720) 615-9621 day or night.
Then there is the matter of Colorado winters. They are no joke. Let the temperature go under zero for a few days with an empty house and the water in your pipes will freeze, expand and put a crack in them. Most of the time you are none the wiser until the ice gives way and lets the water run. But you can head that off with a few easy measures.
The Reason Pipes Freeze
Ice takes up more room than water. In a confined pipe the pressure mounts and eventually something has to give. The ones in unheated spots or where the insulation is lacking are prime candidates for trouble when a cold front comes in from the plains or foothills.
Typically the following are in harm’s way:
- Any pipe running along an outside wall
- Those in the attic, garage or a crawl space
- In the basement
- Under a sink in the kitchen or bath on a cold wall
- Sprinkler lines and outdoor hose bibs
Things to Do Before You Head Out
Some preparation is worth it. Before you lock up and make for the airport we suggest the following:
- Leave the heat running. A setting of 55 or so on the thermostat will put a small dent in your wallet but not like a flood will.
- Open up the cabinet doors below the sinks to let some warmth get to the pipes.
- Put a slight drip on a faucet; still water is easier to freeze.
- Drain and put away garden hoses and turn off the water to the spigots outdoors.
- Put some foam sleeves on any exposed pipe in the garage or basement, you can pick them up at the hardware store.
- For a long trip with nobody home, shut the main valve and drain the lines to eliminate the risk.
- Have a neighbor you can trust stop by every couple of days to see if all is in order.
If You Think a Pipe is Frozen
Even with the best of intentions a pipe can freeze. A mere trickle from the faucet is telling. Do not close it once you notice, leave it open for when the ice melts. Use a hair dryer or a space heater from a safe distance to thaw the spot, nothing with an open flame.
Should a pipe break, your first move is to cut off the main supply and get help. It is the only way to contain the damage and keep the bill down.
What Brings Denver Homeowners to High 5
A frozen pipe does not care what the business hours are. Our phone is not put through to a call center but to someone who can assist you, be it Christmas day or the wee hours.
When you ring us you can expect:
- Full licensing and insurance (Colorado #189849)
- Technicians with clean backgrounds and a respect for your property
- No surprises on the price, we tell you upfront
- Financing if required
- A guarantee of 100 percent satisfaction
- An A+ from the BBB and over 6,000 reviews on Google
Our service area is the whole of the Denver metro and beyond: Aurora, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Golden, Lakewood, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock, Boulder and Longmont.
For those wishing to be on top of such matters all year, have a word with us about the Club Membership plan for your plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical needs; it comes with priority scheduling and discounts on repairs as well as the usual tune-ups.
Take some time to put your mind at ease and safeguard your pipes before you pack for your holidays, and if you are in the area our Wheat Ridge leak detection team can catch trouble early. Or if you need us while you are away, High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric is at (720) 615-9621 around the clock to ensure your home stays dry.